Travel restrictions have been stripped back for scores of countries and double-vaccinated travellers will only need to take a single rapid Covid-19 test after the complicated traffic light system was scrapped.
The green, amber and red lists have been replaced by a two-tier travel system with one category of low risk travel destinations that will only require one lateral flow test.
Ministers have considerably reduced the number of high risk countries in a bid to open up international travel, with eight countries – including Turkey – to be moved off the list from 4 October at 4am.
Expensive PCR testing will be replaced by £30 lateral flows – saving hundreds of pounds for families planning to travel abroad over the October half term.
Those who test positive with Covid-19, however, will be required to take a confirmation PCR which will be sequenced to check for concerning new variants.
The requirement for pre-departure lateral flow tests has also been removed for travellers returning to the UK – saving families even more money.
The new testing rules are not expected to be introduced immediately, with the Government keen to give time for private testing companies to adjust to the increased demand.
Other countries moving to the low-risk list are Pakistan, Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya.
The updated international travel rules mark the end of the three-tier traffic light system, introduced in May, and will result in a considerably more relaxed system.
This is a breaking story and is being updated.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon